1. Water Pollution

2. Definitions
 Impaired Waters
Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to
develop lists of impaired waters, those that do not meet
water quality standards that states have set for them.
 Total Maximum Daily Load
The law requires that states establish priority rankings for
impaired waters and develop total maximum daily loads
(TMDLs) for them. A TMDL specifies the maximum
amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive
and still meet water quality standards.
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/overviewfs.html

3. Point Source Pollution
vs.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
What’s the difference?
Slides by Christopher C. Obropta, Rutgers University

4. Point Source Pollution
 comes from a specific
source, like a pipe
 factories, industry,
municipal treatment
plants
 can be monitored and
controlled by a permit
system

5. What is nonpoint source pollution?
 Nonpoint Source
(NPS) Pollution is
pollution associated
with stormwater or
runoff
 NPS pollution cannot
be traced to a direct
discharge point such
as a wastewater
treatment facility

7. Examples of NPS
 oil & grease from cars
 fertilizers
 animal waste
 grass clippings
 septic systems
 sewage & cleaners from
boats
 household cleaning
products
 litter

8. Pollutant Transport Mechanisms
• NPS pollutants build up on land surfaces during dry
weather
Atmospheric deposition
Fertilizer applications
Animal waste
Automotive exhaust/fluid leaks
• Pollutants are washed off land surfaces during precipitation
events (stormwater runoff)
• Stormwater runoff will flow to lakes and streams

9. Pollutant build-up and wash off are affected by
land use.
 Imperviousness increases runoff
 Land use changes impact build up

10. Linking Land Use to Water Quality
More Imperviousness = More Water

11. What is impervious cover?
 roads, rooftops, parking lots, and other hard
surfaces that do not allow stormwater to soak
into the ground
 “predominant American vegetation”

12. Impervious Cover
• provides a surface for
accumulation of
pollutants
• leads to increased
polluted runoff and
flooding
• inhibits recharge of
groundwater

13. Impact of Nonpoint Source Pollution
 fish and wildlife
 recreational water
activities
 commercial fishing
 tourism
 drinking water quality

14. Pollutants Found in Runoff
Sediment
Soil particles
transported from
their source
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
● Oxygen depleting material
Leaves
Organic material
Toxics
● Pesticides
 Herbicides
 Fungicides
 Insecticides
● Metals (naturally occurring
in soil, automotive
emissions/ tires)
 Lead
 Zinc
 Mercury
● Petroleum Hydrocarbons
(automotive exhaust and
fuel/oil)
Debris
Litter and illegal dumping
Nutrients
● Various types of materials that
become dissolved and
suspended in water (commonly
found in fertilizer and plant material):
 Nitrogen (N)
 Phosphorus (P)
Bacteria/ Pathogens
Originating from:
● Pets
● Waterfowl
● Failing septic systems
Thermal
Stress
Heated runoff,
removal of
streamside
vegetation

15. Potential Sources of Pollutants
Found in Residential Areas
 Nutrients: Fertilizers
and septic systems
 Pathogens: Pet waste
and septic systems
 Sediment:
Construction, road
sand, soil erosion
 Toxic: Pesticides,
household products
 Debris: Litter and illegal
dumping
 Thermal: heated runoff,
removal of streamside
vegetation

16. Pollutants from Agriculture
 Sediment
 Nutrients
 Pathogens
 Pesticides

17. Why are these pollutants important?
 Sediment reduces light penetration
in stream, clogs gills of fish and
aquatic invertebrates.
 Nutrients act as fertilizer for algae &
aquatic plants which can cause
highly varying dissolved oxygen
levels. At low DO levels, the
aquatic life has the potential to be
harmed.
 Toxics can impact life and
contaminate drinking water
supplies.
 Bacteria/Pathogens are an indicator
of possible viruses present in the
system.